November 16, (THEWILL) – Palpable fear has gripped the residents of Ekeneobizi, Umuopara, along the Umuahia-Owerri Road in Abia State, following the killing of two soldiers at a checkpoint in the area by suspected members of the Indigenous People of Biafra.
The incident, which occurred on the morning of November 13, led to the dismantling of the Joint Task Force South-East Operation UDO KA checkpoint, including the removal of sandbags on both sides of the road.
In a statement, the Joint Task Force appealed to residents of Abia State and the South-East to provide reliable and credible information that could lead to the arrest of those responsible for what it described as a heinous crime.
A visit to the area by our correspondent revealed that fear of a potential military reprisal has forced many residents to abandon their homes and businesses.
Okey, a commercial tricycle operator who resides in the area, disclosed that he moved his entire family to a nearby community immediately after the incident.
“Knowing how the military reacts in such situations, I didn’t take chances. I had to leave with my family,” he said.
A shop owner, who chose to remain anonymous, described the incident as unfortunate and called for an end to the killing of security personnel in the South-East.
Another resident, James, urged South-East governors to unite and address the root causes of unrest in the region. He noted that the region has not been the same since the agitation for Biafra intensified, calling for the release of IPOB leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, as part of efforts to restore peace.
Madam Olachi echoed this sentiment, blaming the region’s leaders for failing to broker peace.
She accused political leaders of politicising Kanu’s incarceration and reiterated her call for stability and progress in the South-East.
Similarly, a mechanic, Emeka Okoro, condemned the killing of the soldiers but appealed to the military to avoid retaliatory attacks on the community.
“The South-East is already over-militarized, and the fear of reprisal attacks is unsettling. Something urgent needs to be done to bring lasting peace,” he stated.
